The Parroters

By Ali Ibrahim  In Nigerian politics, a bye-election is rarely accorded the gravitas of a general poll. It is frequently dismissed as a parochial affair, yet, in the eye of a keen observer,  they function as a canary in the coalmine of a ruling party’s vitality.  They are the microscopic fissures that presage a larger structural failure or success, the subtle tremor that warns of a coming catastrophic event. The recent bye-election conducted in Garki/Babura Federal Constituency in Jigawa State is one of such tremor which have presented an inconvenient and politically hazardous truth which the All Progressives Congress (APC) party never forget easily. This truth was the embarrassment in the person of Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, the Minister of Defence. Shamefully, the party now openly nurtures a profound vulnerability which constitutes a clear and present danger to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid. However, the real facts of the election are not merely disappoin...

By Pius Ukpong Dr. Patrick Umoh is a man loved and adored by his people, not for grand speeches or empty promises, but for the way he truly listens. During his campaign across the Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara  Federal Constituency, he didn’t just sweep through villages with a megaphone; he stood in crowded market squares and sat under shaded trees, hearing out farmers worried about their harvests, mothers anxious about healthcare, and youths yearning for opportunity. Those heartfelt exchanges stayed with him. Now, his constituents see the impact: a new health center providing free check-ups, scholarships opening doors for students, and streetlights turning dark paths into safe routes. To them, Dr. Umoh is more than a legislator—he’s the one who understands their struggles and delivers change they can see and feel every day. To those who know him, Dr. Patrick Umoh is widely regarded as a true man of the people and a dedicated project ambassador. His relentless pursuit and...

The recent Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly bye-election in Zamfara State has ignited a firestorm of accusations, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) claiming a decisive victory over the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  In a scathing rejoinder, Zamfara APC Publicity Secretary Yusuf Idris Gusau accused Governor Dauda Lawal of resorting to underhanded tactics, including hiring a “criminal writer” to deflect blame for the PDP’s electoral loss. The APC’s emphatic win in the bye-election, described as a “wide, incontestable margin,” left the PDP reeling, with party insiders reportedly pointing fingers at Governor Lawal’s leadership style, poor party coordination, and alleged favoritism toward outsiders.  Despite these internal criticisms, no legal challenge has been mounted by the PDP, which Gusau suggests is due to the undeniable outcome of the election. Gusau’s statement takes aim at a PDP-sponsored article penned under the pseudonym Yusuf Alkali AbdurRahman...

By Toby Prince Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong stands as a paragon of Nigerian excellence and a devoted servant of the people. He embodies visionary leadership, unwavering dedication, and an inspiring beacon of hope, serving as a role model for Nigeria, Africa, and its youth. While representing one of Nigeria’s 109 Senatorial Districts, Senator Asuquo’s influence transcends boundaries, earning him accolades across the nation and beyond. His remarkable achievements, driven by lofty aspirations, have garnered widespread recognition—not because he holds the title of Senate President, but because he champions the aspirations of youth across all walks of life. Ekpenyong's vision has ignited inspiration among countless young people in organisations and nations across Africa, who see in him a shining example of exemplary leadership and a guide for their future. Senator Asuquo has tirelessly fostered unity, collaboration, and youth empowerment, breaking down barriers to expand access to education...

By Ochonu Ochonu  In a country where economic plans often spark more debate than results, Senator Atiku Bagudu is rewriting the narrative with a rare blend of discipline and vision. As Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the former Kebbi governor is turning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda into a framework that delivers for our country and the cotizens. His appointment was no gamble—Bagudu’s track record of fiscal prudence and bold reforms has made his ministry a linchpin for Nigeria’s prosperity, proving that steady leadership can outshine the loudest promises. Bagudu carries a reputation for getting things done—not with fanfare, but with the steady resolve of someone who knows a single policy can change millions of lives. His work, rooted in Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is quietly reshaping Nigeria’s economic narrative, weaving stability and opportunity into a nation hungry for progress. Bagudu’s journey to this moment began in Kebbi, where he governed fro...

A group, the Nigerian Transparency Initiative (NTI), has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to openly address the corruption allegations leveled against him in recent months. The group said the controversies trailing his leadership are too weighty to be ignored, insisting that silence would only deepen public suspicion and erode confidence in the national oil company. In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, Muyiwa Salami, cordinator of NTI, in a statement, said the controversies are capable of undermining the reputation of the NNPCL and the confidence of Nigerians in the oil sector. “We call on Mr. Bayo Ojulari to answer these allegations in clear terms. Failure to do so will only suggest that there is something to hide,” Salami said. The group also noted that while some groups have dismissed the allegations as political blackmail orchestrated by entrenched interests, the scale and consistency of the rep...

By Sharon Iwodi Engr. Gbenga Olu Komolafe’s appointment as the pioneer Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in October 2021 was met with widespread approval, proof of his distinguished career marked by professionalism and innovation. His ascent to this pivotal role was no fluke, built on a foundation of exemplary service in various capacities, including General Manager, Special Duties, Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, and Executive Director (Commercial) at the Pipeline and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC). Komolafe’s track record of transformative leadership in these roles positioned him as the ideal candidate to steer Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector into a new era. He's brought a multidisciplinary expertise to the NUPRC, holding two master’s degrees from the University of Ibadan in Industrial and Production Engineering and Industrial and Labour Relations, alongside a master’s in Social Sciences and a degree in L...

By Usman Baba, Shuaibu Awaisu and Sani Yusuf Kokki Distinguished Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, popularly known as Sani 313, is by all standards a courageous man. In 2019, Sen. 313 relaunched his political ambition under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, challenging the very popular Bar. David Umaru, who was the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. It was a daunting task that seemed impossible. After a fierce battle, right from the party primaries to the general election, the winner was finally decided by the Supreme Court. Confirming the maxim that impossibility doesn't exist, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, upheld arguments by Musa’s legal team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), on Friday, June 14th, 2019. They concluded that Musa won the primary of the APC for the election and was the actual candidate for the election. Since his inauguration as a Senator of the Federal Republic...

The APC Youth Congress has issued a scathing rebuke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Dauda Lawal, attributing the party's crushing defeat in the recent Kaura-Namoda South State Constituency bye-election to Lawal’s abysmal performance in office. The group dismissed the PDP’s claims of electoral irregularities and misuse of armed forces as baseless excuses meant to deflect from the governor’s failure to deliver on his campaign promises. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Kamilu Sa’idu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the bye-election, securing 8,182 votes against PDP candidate Muhammad Lawal Kurya’s 5,544. The election, conducted in Sakajiki and Kyambarawa polling units, followed an inconclusive by-election due to a narrow vote margin. In a statement, Comrade Gambo Danladi, spokesperson for the APC Youth Congress, described the PDP’s loss as a “referendum on Lawal’s incompetence.” He accused the governor of failing to d...

The APC Vanguard has hailed Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin for orchestrating a resounding victory in the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency bye-election, cementing his status as the preeminent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State. In a press statement signed by President Comrade Dan Yusuf, the group praised Barau’s “unparalleled political mastery, visionary stewardship, and relentless dedication,” which secured a landslide win for APC candidate Garba Ya’u Gwarmai. Recall that the APC candidate clinched 31,472 votes against the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s (NNPP) Yusuf Ali Maigado, who polled 27,931 votes, as declared by INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Muhammad Waziri of Bayero University. Since assuming the role of Deputy Senate President, the highest-ranking official from Kano, the group said Barau has transformed the state’s political landscape, drawing thousands of rival supporters and leaders from the ruling NNPP and other political parties. The V...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Kamilu Sa’idu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Kaura-Namoda South State Constituency bye-election, delivering a crushing blow to Governor Dauda Lawal’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Returning Officer, Lawal Sa’adu of the Federal University Gusau, announced that Sa’idu polled 1,181 votes in the supplementary election, defeating PDP’s Muhammad Lawal Kurya, who scored 194 votes. Across the constituency, the APC secured a total of 8,182 votes, while the PDP managed 5,544. “Kamilu Sa’idu of the APC, having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Sa’adu stated. The supplementary election, conducted in Sakajiki (two polling units) and Kyambarawa (three polling units), followed an inconclusive by-election last Saturday at the Kasuwar Daji collation center. The rerun was necessitated as the initial margin of 1,662 votes between the leading candidate...

By Moses Udo   Among the constellation of Nigeria’s leadership, there are individuals whose vision and tenacity do more than just inspire people, they are representation and an architect of transformation. Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, helming the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), is irrevocably one such luminary. His leadership over this critical agency has been exceptionally administrative; it is emblematic of the purposeful reform which has become one of the answers to the clarion calls within the broader framework of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Komolafe’s leadership is one that has yielded structural innovations, an article which can be likened to a Master builder who is laying the foundation for a high skyscraper. He is constructing a new framework for the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. And for the record, he has championed non-kinetic strategies to quell crude oil theft, a feat which has remarkably reduced losses to 5,000 barrels per ...

The Concerned Jigawa APC Forum (CJAF) has issued a scathing rebuke of the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, branding his performance in the recent Garki-Babura Federal Constituency bye-election as a “catastrophic political failure” and a threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. In a strongly worded press statement, the group demanded Badaru’s immediate resignation, citing his inability to secure votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his home polling unit and ward as evidence of his dwindling political influence. The bye-election, held on August 17, 2025, saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deliver a stunning defeat to the APC at Badaru’s polling unit (001) in Babura Kofar Arewa Primary School, Jigawa State, with the PDP securing 308 votes to the APC’s 112. The loss extended to Badaru’s ward, where the PDP also dominated at the polling unit of his ally, Minister of State for Education, Mrs. Suwaiba Ahmad, winning 184 votes to the AP...

By William Ochonu  Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke stands as a towering figure of loyalty and transformative leadership, his name etched in the annals of Nigeria’s history for his unwavering commitment to public service. Faleke’s career radiates strategic brilliance and selfless dedication.  As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s steadfast ally, his pivotal leadership in the 2023 presidential campaign and resolute embrace of the Renewed Hope Agenda have solidified his title as the “dependable ally.” Through his sharp legislative insight, profound humility, and remarkable ability to unite diverse stakeholders, Faleke not only drives Nigeria’s progress but also forges a lasting legacy of trust and sacrifice, paving the way for a united and prosperous future. Born on December 25, 1959, in Ekinrin Adde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief Faleke has built a remarkable career defined by dedication, integrity, and loyalty. Rt. Hon. Faleke’s political journey began with his appo...

The Coalition for Justice and Democracy (CJD) has accused the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, of orchestrating a campaign of calumny against President Bola Tinubu as revenge for the declaration of emergency rule in the state. In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday and signed by its president, Comrade Raymond Aighona, the coalition alleged that Fubara was also behind the circulation of a document on social media which falsely accused the Sole Administrator of Rivers, Ibok-Eket Ibas, of mismanaging half a trillion naira and inflating contracts under the guise of funding President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. The group dismissed the allegations as “baseless blackmail”, insisting that the sole administrator had acted strictly within the limits of the emergency powers granted him and under the constant oversight of committees set up by both chambers of the National Assembly to monitor Rivers during the emergency rule. “Siminalayi Fubara has chosen the path of b...

The Coalition for Justice and Democracy (CJD) has accused the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, of orchestrating a campaign of calumny against President Bola Tinubu as revenge for the declaration of emergency rule in the state. In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday and signed by its president, Comrade Raymond Aighona, the coalition alleged that Fubara was also behind the circulation of a document on social media which falsely accused the Sole Administrator of Rivers, Ibok-Eket Ibas, of mismanaging half a trillion naira and inflating contracts under the guise of funding President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. The group dismissed the allegations as “baseless blackmail”, insisting that the sole administrator had acted strictly within the limits of the emergency powers granted him and under the constant oversight of committees set up by both chambers of the National Assembly to monitor Rivers during the emergency rule. “Siminalayi Fubara has chosen the path of b...

The Coalition of Edo Civil Society Organisations (CECSO) has absolved Dangote Cement of blame in the recent tragic accident along the Auchi-Okpella-Okene road, near the Omega Fire Ministry in Auchi, Etsako West LGA of Edo State, insisting that contrary to online reports, the company’s truck was not responsible for the fatal crash. In a detailed investigative report released on Tuesday and signed by its president, Comrade James Osahon, the coalition said its independent findings aligned with police confirmation that it was a third-party cement truck, not the Dangote Cement CNG truck, that triggered the chain of events leading to the accident. CECSO described as “malicious and mischievous” the attempt by certain groups and online platforms to hastily blame Dangote for the tragedy, stressing that such misinformation not only disrespects the dead but also undermines efforts at holding the real culprits accountable. “After a careful on-the-ground investigation, which included visits to the ...

The Asiwaju Network, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately disengage underperforming ministers who failed to deliver their polling units and wards during the just-concluded bye-elections. The group also urged a cabinet reshuffle to inject fresh energy and ensure that only those who can add political and governance value remain in the Federal Executive Council. In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja and signed by its president, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Dandoka, the Asiwaju Network said the results of the elections were a litmus test that exposed the political weaknesses of some ministers entrusted with strategic national assignments. At Babura Kofar Arewa Primary School in Jigawa State, where the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, cast his vote, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 308 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which managed only 112. Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa and APC chieftain, left the venue without addressin...

Dangote Cement truck did not cause the tragic accident, which occurred on the Auchi-Okpella-Okene road, near Omega Fire Ministry in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, contrary to online reports. An eyewitness, Audu Omale, who gave a vivid account of the accident, recalled that “a third-party truck loaded with cement was moving in the opposite direction of the Dangote Cement (DCT) CNG truck on a sloppy road. "The commercial truck driver lost control of his truck due to a suspected brake failure, ran into a moving vehicle, a motorcycle and eventually crashed into the side of the DCT truck. The DCT CNG truck caught fire in the process. “Consequently, three persons from the vehicle hit by the third-party truck lost their lives while two persons sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The DCT truck driver escaped to avoid mob attack,” Omale clarified. In a related development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPR...